History of the Johnstown Flood

by Willis Fletcher Johnson

A history of the Johnstown Flood including all the fearful record; the breaking of the South Fork Dam; the sweeping out of the Conemaugh Valley; the overthrow of Johnstown; the massing of the wreck at the railroad bridge; escapes, rescues, searches for survivors and the dead; relief organizations, stupendous charities, etc., etc. With full accounts also of the destruction on the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers and the Bald Eagle Creek.

Genres: History

459 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Willis Fletcher Johnson was an author, lecturer, and foreign and diplomatic editorial writer for The New York Tribune.

Reviews

[Steve Shissler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed account of the Johnstown Flood

I very good read for people interested in American history. The human drama that unfolds is moving. All aspects of the cause and results of the flood are explained. The logistical difficulties of the cleanup and allocation of supplies for daily survival are enlightening. I learned quite a lot.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed reading this historical documentation, it was a little dry. However, I do recommend it for its historical content.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive

This is a very good book. However, it is a little all over the place With the structure. I enjoyed reading it.

[skein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I love disaster stories. WITH PICTURES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. I've read a few million accounts of this particular disaster, mostly written a hundred years after the effect, so this (published the same year) is a refreshing change, I guess? Aside from the overt racism/sexism/weird religious bickering.

“... how’s your folks? They all right, too?” was the next question.
“Two of them are—them two little ones sitting on the steps there. The mother and the other three have gone down.”


(via Project Gutenberg.)